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Former CIA Chief of Disguise Breaks Down Cold War Spy Cameras | WIRED

During the Cold War, surveillance in Moscow was the most difficult kind of surveillance that the US had encountered around the globe. There are lots of was to collect intelligence, and cameras were former CIA Chief of Disguise Jonna Mendez’s favorite. Jonna talks about all the different photography methods US spies used during the Cold…

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During the Cold War, surveillance in Moscow was the most difficult kind of surveillance that the US had encountered around the globe. There are lots of was to collect intelligence, and cameras were former CIA Chief of Disguise Jonna Mendez’s favorite. Jonna talks about all the different photography methods US spies used during the Cold War, from carrier pigeons holding tiny cameras to a variety of different spy cameras that could be hidden in pens, ties and pocketbooks.

Check out Jonna Mendez’s most recent book The Moscow Rules or find more information about her on her website on

Moscow Rules:

Archival images courtesy of the International Spy Museum (SPY) in Washington, DC, a Guinness World Record recognized nonprofit with the largest collection of spy artifacts in the world. At the Museum, you can see firsthand some of these spy gadgets:

Additional Archival Images Courtesy of:

Images of Tolkachev are courtesy of a family friend, from The Billion Dollar Spy. You can find out more about the book here:
Image of Matchbox Camera courtesy of the CIA, who does not endorse the contents of this production.

Interspectral:
Getty
Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division

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Former CIA Chief of Disguise Breaks Down Cold War Spy Cameras | WIRED

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112 Comments

112 Comments

  1. NTH THN

    December 9, 2020 at 9:07 pm

    That micro dot thing is insane :/
    What do they even use now :/

  2. Luk4

    December 9, 2020 at 9:14 pm

    I bet that’s not even her real face

  3. Ralf Stephan

    December 9, 2020 at 9:31 pm

    Microdots were invented and used first by Germany.

  4. mohd. Osman Abbas M. Ali

    December 9, 2020 at 10:02 pm

    omg we know their next generation defensive systems ok soviets scrap and start again only few billion $$ over

  5. _oskr

    December 9, 2020 at 10:19 pm

    3:37 is that a camera in your chest or are you just happy to see me?

  6. TheTarrMan

    December 9, 2020 at 10:22 pm

    Why does she say “I was at CIA” and not “I was at the CIA”?
    CIA = Central Intelligence Agency. . . . . So you wouldn’t say “I was at central intelligence agency”, sounds weird right?
    You would say “I was at the central intelligence agency”.

    • lilbluefreak

      December 9, 2020 at 10:54 pm

      English grammar is a funny thing, isn’t it? Lol

  7. God Left

    December 9, 2020 at 10:22 pm

    Right, now tell me more about the fake balls

  8. Gabor Szabados

    December 9, 2020 at 10:41 pm

    Mrs Mendez in a video? Like first, watch next.

  9. Auctor137

    December 9, 2020 at 10:42 pm

    I didnt even watch it and I comment: more of her !

  10. Cris

    December 9, 2020 at 10:56 pm

    she’s back!!!

  11. lilbluefreak

    December 9, 2020 at 10:57 pm

    Um…. so how can I join in?! I’d be super badass at this! They’d never suspect me at all!!! Muhahahaha! 😈

  12. lilbluefreak

    December 9, 2020 at 10:59 pm

    But seriously tho, htf do they train these pigeons to go places? Especially when they need to deliver a specific note? I’m SO curious about this! Anyone know? Do tell..

  13. Zeacorzeppelin10

    December 9, 2020 at 11:06 pm

    I would love to have a tissina camera

  14. Developer Squad

    December 9, 2020 at 11:09 pm

    She is amazing keep doing these!!

  15. Dr. Steve Phil

    December 9, 2020 at 11:10 pm

    DONT END THIS SERIES

  16. Mickeyomania

    December 9, 2020 at 11:10 pm

    THEY ACTUALLY USED PIGEONS?!?!

  17. Daniel Rieger

    December 9, 2020 at 11:31 pm

    This lady is awesome. Most badass grandma

  18. Will The Angry Dudeist

    December 9, 2020 at 11:36 pm

    Chief of Disguise….
    Is that just below Master of Disguise????

  19. david lambert

    December 9, 2020 at 11:57 pm

    I need that microdot technology for my final exams!

  20. Bernhard Mäser

    December 10, 2020 at 12:00 am

    my sources tell me you recorded this around easter

  21. Natalie

    December 10, 2020 at 12:17 am

    Microdots blow my mind.

  22. Norma Castillo

    December 10, 2020 at 12:27 am

    Yes!! Thank you. I just watched Jonna Mendez breaking down 30 spy movies video

  23. Antonio Arroyas

    December 10, 2020 at 12:31 am

    That was epic, Jonna, you present these topics and the technology in such a masterful and fluid way.

  24. hari kaushik

    December 10, 2020 at 1:19 am

    Mission impossible doesn’t feel very impossible now. 😂

  25. Linda Limon

    December 10, 2020 at 1:25 am

    Jonna Mendez… I’m a fan!

  26. Dame Anvil

    December 10, 2020 at 10:37 am

    The monsters who built the Surveillance State. On the surface, they look human.

  27. mba applications

    December 10, 2020 at 10:50 am

    Now we all understand why Soviet trained beluga whales to spy .

  28. mba applications

    December 10, 2020 at 11:50 am

    At 5:50 what USA did to Soviet ,china is doing same to usa

  29. HAHAnatorz ,

    December 10, 2020 at 11:51 am

    Yes another vid about Jonna and the CIA

  30. Bobsofax64

    December 10, 2020 at 11:54 am

    So every visitor who used to walk around with their pen in hand was and probably still is a spy. Interesting to implement this at the office.

  31. Avery the Cuban-American

    December 10, 2020 at 1:21 pm

    Told ya pigeons are spy cameras

  32. The_badbatplayz

    December 10, 2020 at 1:43 pm

    CIA exists
    *WIRED I Can milk you*

  33. Kim Jong-un

    December 10, 2020 at 1:45 pm

    We have our own pigeons too, I use them to go get KFC in Seoul since we don’t have it here

  34. Dylan

    December 10, 2020 at 1:49 pm

    We want more!

  35. Connor Wood

    December 10, 2020 at 2:59 pm

    the birds worked for the government

  36. Denise Bell

    December 10, 2020 at 3:05 pm

    The knowing anime suddenly bury because philippines arthroscopically spot apud a ill-informed linen. fallacious, colossal turn

  37. Redbag

    December 10, 2020 at 3:26 pm

    It’s unbelievable how the state can brainwash you.

  38. Biera

    December 10, 2020 at 3:46 pm

    propaganda

  39. yo mama

    December 10, 2020 at 4:21 pm

    The green grey grieving lilac repressingly slow because cent inherently hunt through a astonishing sofa. unaccountable, lowly bomber

  40. Aiman Iskandar

    December 10, 2020 at 4:49 pm

    For the time, the technology and method used by the CIA was pretty impressive

  41. KeyStroke

    December 10, 2020 at 4:52 pm

    We need you for director instead of Gina Haspel!

  42. Anthony San Lucas

    December 10, 2020 at 4:52 pm

    I love your channel. Would you consider moving to Rumble as YouTube is now censoring those they disagree with politically. Many are moving to Rumble as they are committed to free speech and discussion.

  43. Johnny Cheung

    December 10, 2020 at 5:16 pm

    The colorful fairies tentatively afford because blade finallly note given a delightful holiday. secret, idiotic litter

  44. Kris

    December 10, 2020 at 5:33 pm

    i love watching this woman so much!

  45. 1.5x playback everything - thank me later

    December 10, 2020 at 7:07 pm

    Now i want to know about the guy who made the tropel camera!

  46. Johnny sun

    December 10, 2020 at 7:34 pm

    4:01 is she wearing a neckless or a camera

  47. Frank S

    December 10, 2020 at 9:12 pm

    Truly a shame that the CIA didn’t use their full capabilities and expertise to short circuit that ‘Russian Collusion’ hoax.

  48. Billy

    December 10, 2020 at 9:29 pm

    Please keep bringing Jonna back!

  49. AllyOnAir

    December 10, 2020 at 10:03 pm

    This microdot thing is crazy, how is this possible

  50. Jose Luis Rodriguez

    December 10, 2020 at 11:03 pm

    The guy who zoomed in the “innocent pigeon”

  51. Solace

    December 11, 2020 at 3:03 am

    Hey! She’s back!

  52. Half Of Me

    December 11, 2020 at 4:12 am

    Hello, please, would you give me a video link on how to convert sentences and words into numbers for study in the subconscious mind, please as soon as possible and thank you

  53. Nay2D2

    December 11, 2020 at 4:48 am

    .

  54. Justin Carter

    December 11, 2020 at 5:39 am

    Jonna mendez AKA Mary Pat Foley…

  55. Brent Beacham

    December 11, 2020 at 6:18 am

    I wish we could honor Adolf Georgievich Tolkachev in some substantial way. It would be nice to see a submarine, bridge, or airport named after him. Tolkachev hated the USSR for what Stalin did to his family. A good lesson to learn.

  56. Aidan Johnston

    December 11, 2020 at 7:16 am

    Love every video with Jonna!

  57. Josemaría Hinojosa

    December 11, 2020 at 8:45 am

    Where is the microfilm?

  58. idk

    December 11, 2020 at 11:01 am

    I love the aesthetic of the table. It gives detective vibe, old yet still smart.

  59. Mistress Milky

    December 11, 2020 at 11:35 am

    that microdot method is absolutely insane

  60. Goat MC

    December 11, 2020 at 11:50 am

    “You can put in one a pregnant woman”(the camera)
    I’m sorry *what*

  61. Wojciech Zylinski

    December 11, 2020 at 11:52 am

    Chief od Disguise at the terrorist organization

    FTFY

  62. 000000000

    December 11, 2020 at 1:25 pm

    I know it pigeon are a government agent you cant trust them .one day i shot and cook it the day after that my neighbour arested for drug dealer

  63. Tony Dean

    December 11, 2020 at 3:17 pm

    This infuriates American liberals.  They are still upset that their side lost the Cold War.

  64. thismeltingsnow

    December 11, 2020 at 4:42 pm

    I could listen to this women for hours! Thank you WIRED 👏

  65. Runar Andersen

    December 11, 2020 at 5:10 pm

    Just amazing.
    Think of todays camera tecknologi.

  66. Oikake Akabei

    December 11, 2020 at 6:49 pm

    Augustin Jean Fresnel was a frensh physicist. The s is silent: fʀɛˈnɛl

  67. Cranberry

    December 11, 2020 at 7:24 pm

    Incase of the’micro dot’, how were they able to print on such a small scale….?

    • Alex Gac

      December 12, 2020 at 4:44 pm

      A very small printer

    • Cranberry

      December 12, 2020 at 5:23 pm

      @Alex Gac 😂

  68. Keeley Marie

    December 11, 2020 at 8:29 pm

    These are my favorite videos on this channel, hands down. Please bring her back regularly!!!

  69. shridhar rudragoud

    December 11, 2020 at 9:17 pm

    It’s very old technology, imagine today’s tools

  70. Shane

    December 12, 2020 at 1:11 am

    I adore this woman’s insights. I went to the spy museum when I was a kid. I wish I appreciated it more back then

  71. TurkeyBaster12

    December 12, 2020 at 1:26 am

    Why tf was there a transgender commercial🤮

  72. Kris Gaudet

    December 12, 2020 at 3:45 am

    Love watching Jonna Mendez! I could listen to her stories all day! It would be cool is they had her in some documentaries!

  73. Joseph Tang

    December 12, 2020 at 6:12 am

    Imagine taking a photo in a meeting while undercover and all of a sudden the flash goes off because you forgot to turn it off… 🔪😵

  74. _ Landa

    December 12, 2020 at 10:55 am

    the microdot is so f’ng cool.

  75. Jake Williams

    December 12, 2020 at 3:26 pm

    So when does she get a miniseries about her life on Netflix? Hmm?

  76. fierceANM

    December 12, 2020 at 5:21 pm

    I think she just blew my mind with the microdot because HOW

  77. Vvbb Vvbb

    December 12, 2020 at 5:21 pm

    I thought it was elton john for a moment

  78. Chris T

    December 12, 2020 at 11:52 pm

    More videos of this woman (when corona dies off) she is excellent at story telling

  79. Gollumisahomie

    February 25, 2021 at 6:19 am

    Why put a camera on a drone with a built in camera?

  80. Eddie Rivera

    February 25, 2021 at 4:53 pm

    Jesus this woman is badass

  81. Patrik the shitpost man

    February 25, 2021 at 7:19 pm

    Imagine accidentaly shooting a pigeon and it has a camera on it

  82. Dr Phil Swifty Boi

    February 25, 2021 at 9:06 pm

    Plot twist: She’s actually a 70 year old man disguising they’re identity…

  83. Noah Woods

    February 26, 2021 at 2:38 am

    I just found this channel, and I’m sooooo glad I did

  84. Ignatius Vito

    February 26, 2021 at 12:39 pm

    How microdot was made? It’s absolutely incredible.

  85. Miguel Ibarra

    February 27, 2021 at 12:08 am

    Wonder what inspired WIRED to do this video

    *COD Cold War*

    *”Ah bingo”*

  86. Kb0montty2

    February 27, 2021 at 5:37 am

    BIRDS AREN’T REAL!

  87. Michael Skinner

    February 28, 2021 at 2:34 am

    Mr. Green and company😶

  88. StormRage TM

    March 1, 2021 at 11:34 pm

    im actually lookigng for a microdot on the comments section.
    .

    see what i did there?

  89. Li Feng Liu

    March 2, 2021 at 4:57 am

    The warlike palm finallly vanish because worm pathohistologically present like a determined jellyfish. parallel, animated cell

  90. bite me if you dare hmph

    March 2, 2021 at 1:17 pm

    I bought a pen spy record camera gift my bf and he rejected it 🙁

  91. Danice Lobrin

    March 2, 2021 at 2:54 pm

    I want the tiny cameras

  92. Elsa Tan

    March 3, 2021 at 5:33 am

    The staking toilet disappointedly load because soil numerically saw into a dime. loose, ruthless workshop

  93. Yes No

    March 4, 2021 at 1:57 am

    When I saw the name billionaire spy I thought of the anime “The Millionaire Detective Balance: Unlimited” lol

  94. Jonna Borosky

    March 4, 2021 at 2:22 am

    So interesting!

  95. Catalina

    March 4, 2021 at 4:58 am

    I could listen to her all day

  96. Cole

    March 4, 2021 at 3:28 pm

    I want her to do a review on Cold War gadget in call of duty

  97. L9lip0p

    March 4, 2021 at 5:51 pm

    i alwyas thought this was called wierd not wired

  98. Alakai Punny

    March 5, 2021 at 3:55 am

    We were right pigeons are spying on us

  99. mel

    March 5, 2021 at 7:22 pm

    please don’t hurt the pigeons 🙁

  100. Bob Dole

    March 8, 2021 at 1:59 am

    Photo Ops Officer………..my friends…she was in POO.

  101. Paul Dräger

    March 8, 2021 at 8:12 pm

    The pigeon story would make an amazing animated film.

  102. Nate Levinson

    March 8, 2021 at 8:59 pm

    The tenuous authority preferably wrap because tiger mathematically point notwithstanding a capricious thread. quickest, important saudi arabia

  103. ENIGMA XII

    March 9, 2021 at 1:14 pm

    And so that past Cold War technology has given us all a small camera that works with a hand held telephone/ computer.
    That is pretty much taken for granted today…
    The smart phone.

  104. Angelo Fanella

    March 11, 2021 at 2:55 am

    What an awesome job

  105. Eugene Charles

    March 12, 2021 at 2:25 am

    Fill no hope

  106. Alex Gibson

    March 12, 2021 at 8:32 pm

    Can… can I even believe her? Is this misinformation? Idk what to think lol

  107. HyperionStudios

    March 13, 2021 at 7:20 pm

    lol at everybody in the comments wondering what kind of technology the alphabet soup has now. i mean surely it’s impressive but it can’t beat the device that almost every human has on him 24/7, namely the smartphone. smartphones must be the biggest gift to intelligence agencies in human history.

  108. Psyminds

    March 15, 2021 at 2:58 pm

    When she first said microdots I thought she was gonna talk about how they were using LSD back then
    If someone told me there was a microdot in a magazine I would find out by cutting out every single . and then eat it lol.

  109. The C.I.A.

    March 17, 2021 at 2:31 pm

    Stop giving away our secrets!!!!

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